Final Results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sophomore Kellen Rutto picked up a victory in the 5,000 meters and first-year sophomore Champagne Bell made an impressive debut to highlight the NSU women's track team's indoor season-opener on Sunday at the Christopher Newport Holiday Open at the Freeman Center.

Rutto took first place in a time of 18 minutes, 52.52 seconds. It was the only gold medal for the Spartan women on Sunday, but far from the only impressive performance. Bell, making her long-awaited college debut, earned two-second place finishes (400 meters and long jump) and a fourth-place finish (200 meters). She posted times of 58.13 in the 400 and 25.76 in the 200. She also had a best long jump of 18 feet, 7.75 inches.

Bell's finish in the 200 was part of a 2-3-4 finish for NSU in that event. Senior Shanneka Claiborne placed second (25.35) and senior Dania Sanford was third (25.63).

Like Bell, senior Wanetta Kirby also had three top-five finishes. She was fourth in the long jump (18-2.5), third in the 60 meter hurdles (8.80) and third in the high jump (5-3.75).

Also posting a top-five finish was senior Elaine Rhoades in the long jump. She placed third with a best effort of 37-3.25.

NSU is off for the holidays before returning to the track on Jan. 8 at the Father Diamond Invitational hosted by George Mason in Fairfax, Va.